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The  Roycroft  Shop 

GREETING! 


HE  ROYCROFTERS  are  a band  of  workers 
who  make  beautiful  Books  & Things — mak- 
ing them  as  good  as  they  can.  The  paper  on 
which  Roycroft  books  are  printed  is  hand- 
made, and  the  initials  are  illumined  by  hand 
similar  to  the  first  initial  in  this  book. 

As  a gift  you  probably  cannot  present  anything  at  equal 
cost  that  would  be  more  acceptable  than  a hand-illumined 
Roycroft  book.  Our  work  is  the  product  of  Hand  & Brain 
in  partnership.  In  things  made  by  hand  there  are  no  du- 
plicates ; and  further,  there  is  a quality  of  sentiment  at- 
tached to  articles  thus  produced  that  never  clings  to  fab- 
rics made  in  vast  quantities  by  steam.  If  you  desire  we 
will  gladly  send  you  several  volumes  to  choose  from — a 
postal  card  from  you  will  do  it.  We  pay  express  both  ways. 

THE  ROYCROFTERS, 

East  Aurora, 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/detaiis/listofbooksmadedOOroyc 


THE  ROYCROFT  SHOP, 
EAST  AURORA,  N.  Y. 

Now  Ready : 


HE  ANCIENT  MARI- 
NER : By  Samuel  Taylor 
Coleridge  A peculiar 
book,  made  after  the  pat- 
tern of  a volume  devised 
by  Horace  Walpole  and 
printed  at  the  Strawberry 
Hill  Press  in  1761.  Rubri- 
cated side  lines  and  ini- 
tials. For  this  book  Mr. 
W.  W.  Denslow  has  made  special  initials  and 
fourteen  antique  wood-cut  ornaments  by  way  of 
illustration.  Price  of  the  volume : 

Nine  hundred  in  flexible  chamois,  satin  lined,  $ a.oo 
Four  hundred  copies,  specially  illumined,  5.00 

Forty  copies  on  Japan  Vellum,  specially  illumined,  10.00 


THE  SONNETS  OP  SHAKESPEARE  On 
“ Roycroft  ” paper.  The  initials  and  ornaments 

5 


made  especially  for  this  book — ^hand  illumined 
throughout.  The  price : 

Nine  hundred  copies,  bound  plainly  in  boards,  $ 5.00 
Twelve  copies  on  Classic  Vellum,  in  full  Levant 
[ —hand  tooled,  no  two  alike,  each,  xoo.oo 

•ft  So  far  as  we  know  this  is  the  only  book  ever 
printed  in  America  on  genuine  Vellum — ^the  ma- 
terial being  prepared  for  us  by  the  man  who  sup- 
plied William  Morris  all  the  Vellum  that  was 
used  by  the  Kelmscott  Press.  This  edition  was 
prepared  with  great  care  and  probably  is  the 
nearest  approach  to  a perfect  book  yet  produced 
by  the  Roycrofters. 


TIME  AND  CHANCE : A Romance  and  a His- 
tory— being  the  story  of  the  life  of  a man  By 
Elbert  Hubbard.  In  two  volumes  of  300  pages 
each — illustrated  in  photogravure  Bound  in 
boards,  leather  backs  and  comers.  Price  for  the 
set  of  two  volumes,  in  box,  $3.00 


THE  SONG-STORY  OF  THE  LOVE  OF  AU- 
CASSIN  & NICOLETE  ^ Translated  out  of  the 
Ancient  French  by  Andrew  Lang.  On  “Roycroft” 
6 


paper,  made  at  the  vat  by  hand.  Hand  illumined 
throughout. 

Bound  in  russet  chamois,  silk  lined,  $2.00 

Twenty-five  copies  on  Imperial  Japan,  5.00 

Where  smooth  the  Southern  waters  run 
Through  rustling  leagues  of  poplars  gray, 

Beneath  a veiled  soft  Southern  sun, 

We  wandered  out  of  Yesterday ; 

Went  Maying  in  that  ancient  May 
Whose  fallen  dowers  are  fragrant  yet, 

And  lingered  by  the  fountain  spray 
With  Aucassin  and  Nicolete. 


THE  ESSAY  ON  FRIENDSHIP:  By  Ralph 
Waldo  Emerson  4^  On  “ Roycroft  ” paper,  print- 
ed from  a new  font  of  Caslon  type,  with  new 
initials,  borders,  and  head  & tail  pieces  designed 
by  Mr.  Samuel  Warner — (Honest  Roycrofter)  ^ 

Bound  in  limp  chamois — satin  lined,  $ 2.00 

Fifty  copies  specially  illumined  by  Mr.  Lawrence 

Mazzanovich,  5.00 

Twenty-five  copies  on  Japan  Vellum,  lo.oo 

“ The  heart  of  the  man  is  shown  in  that  Essay 
on  Friendship.  He  never  did  better,  & may  write 
forty  years  and  never  equal  it.  • . * If  Emerson 
never  wrote  anything  else  but  that,  his  name  m 

7 


literature  would  endure.” — ^John  Addington  Sy- 
monds. 


THE  INTELLECTUAL  LIFE : By  Philip  Gil- 
bert Hamerton  In  double  columns,  on  “ What- 
man,” after  a format  devised  by  Jenson,  all  ini- 
tials being  drawn  in,  free-hand.  A sumptuous 
piece  of  book-making.  Bound  in  boards,  suede 
leather  back  and  corners.  Price,  $7.50. 

THE  RUBAIYAT  OF  OMAR  KHAYYAM 
Being  the  FitzGerald  translation  of  1879 : with 
the  address  of  Hon.  John  Hay  at  the  Omar  Khay- 
yam Club,  London,  as  a preface  All  initials, 
ornaments  and  head  and  tail  pieces  used  were 
made  especially  for  this  edition.  Initials  in  red 
and  blue,  alternating,  after  the  Oriental  manner. 
The  binding  is  rough  chamois,  olive  green,  satin 
lined : the  whole  effect  being  fairly  pleasing. 

Price  of  the  book,  $ 3.00 

A few  copies  specially  illumined,  5.00 

^ The  Roycrofters  are  very  glad  to  send  their 
wares  to  the  Elect  on  inspection.  A postal  card 
will  do  it. 

8 


A special  list  of  special  Roycroft  books — only  a 
few  copies  of  each  being  left : 

LITTLE  JOURNEYS  TO  THE  HOMES  OF 
FAMOUS  WOMEN  (De  luxe  edition)  oS  Ini- 
tials and  paragraph  marks  drawn  in  by  hand. 
Price,  $10.00.  


ESSAYS  OF  ELIA  ^ The  initials  all  drawn  in 
by  hand,  $2.50, 

A few  specially  illumined,  $5.00. 


BALLADS  OF  A BOOK- WORM : By  Irving 
Browne  •¥►  Price,  $5.00. 

Twenty  copies  on  japan  Vellum,  $10.00 

We  have  the  following  specially  illumined  and 
bound  volumes  : 

s 

ART  AND  LIFE : By  Vernon  Lee  ^ On  Im- 
perial Japan  Vellum,  in  full  Levant,  hand  tooled 
after  a special  design.  Avery  elegant  bit  of  book- 
making. $15.00. 

RUSKIN-TURNER  ^ On  “ Whatman,”  con- 
taining twelve  reproductions  of  Turner  master- 

0 


pieces  on  Japan  Vellum.  Hand  illumined,  full 
Levant,  hand  tooled.  $20.00. 


UPLAND  PASTURES  ^ Hand  illumined,  in 
full  Levant,  hand  tooled  after  a special  design. 
Price,  $12.50. 


THE  DESERTED  VILLAGE  ^ On  “ What- 
man.” Initials  drawn  in  by  hand  and  also  vari- 
ous water-color  sketches.  A quaint  and  curious 
book  that  has  no  duplicate — bound  plainly  in 
boards.  $10.00. 

AS  IT  SEEMS  TO  ME  ^ On  “ Whatman,”  one 
of  forty  copies,  full  Levant.  Eight  water-color 
sketches  drawn  in  by  hand.  $25.00. 


SESAME  & LILIES  ^ On  » Whatman,”  hand 
illumined,  full  Levant,  hand  tooled.  Two  copies, 
each  $20.00. 

The  Roycrofters  do  not  sell  their  books  through 
stores  or  agents,  but  are  very  glad  to  send  any 
of  their  wares  to  the  Elect  “ on  suspicion.”  A 
postal  card  will  do  it. 

10 


Bound  Periodicals : 

BACK  NUMBERS  OF  THE  PHILISTINE:  One  vol- 
ume in  a book  i|b  Vols.  i,  2 and  3,  scarce,  $2.00  each  1^ 
Vols.  4,  5,  6,  7 and  8,  $1.00  each. 


VERY  SPECIAL : On  receipt  of  Ten  Dollars  to  pay  for 
a Life  Membership  in  the  American  Academy  of  Immor- 
tals, we  record  the  new  member’s  name  on  the  Great 
Roster  (in  colors)  and  send  gratis,  express  prepaid,  the 
eight  bound  volumes  of  The  Philistine  named  above.  We 
also  send  the  member  one  of  each  bound  volume  as  they 
come  out  and  a copy  of  the  Magazine  as  issued  Every 
Little  While,  for  ninety-nine  years — but  no  longer. 

LATER : A very  sudden  and  unexpected  dash  to  get  in  before  St.  Peter 
closes  the  gate,  has  cleaned  us  out  of  Vol.  No.  One,  with  several  appli- 
cants over,  yammering  at  the  bars.  We,  however,  still  have  a few  of  the 
other  volumes.  No  number  of  The  Philistine  will  be  re-printed. 


LITTLE  JOURNEYS  TO  THE  HOMES  OF  EMI- 
NENT  PAINTERS : By  Elbert  Hubbard  ^ Series  of 
1899  comprises  Michael  Angelo,  Rubens,  Titian,  Fortuny, 
Jean  Francois  Millet,  Landseer,  Rembrandt,  Meissonier, 
Anthony  Van  Dyck,  Ary  Scheffer,  Joshua  Reynolds,  Gus- 
tave Dore.  Each  number  contains  a portrait.  The  price  of 
the  series  of  twelve  monthly  numbers  is  $1.00,  and  for 
single  copies,  10  cents. 

The  bound  volume  ready  Nov.  ist,  Roycroft  style,  $1.75. 

II 


LITTLE  JOURNEYS  TO  THE  HOMES  OF 
FAMOUS  WOMEN  1 i6o.  with  portraits, 


GOOD  MEN  AND  GREAT  j a Vols.  $3.50 

AMERICAN  AUTHORS  ) x6o.  with  portraits, 
AMERICAN  STATESMEN  j 2 Vols.  $3.50 

Or  four  Vols,  in  a box  $7.00 

Also  sold  separately,  each  $i*7S 

The  following  Roycroft  Books  are  out  of  print : 

1—  THE  SONG  OF  SONGS,  $ 2.00 

2—  THE  BOOK  OF  ECCLESIASTES,  a.oo 

3 —  ART  AND  LIFE,  by  Vernon  Lee,  5.00 

4—  THE  LEGACY,  by  Elbert  Hubbard,  3.00 

5—  RUSKIN-TURNER,  5.00 

6—  UPLAND  PASTURES,  by  Adeline  Knapp,  a.oo 

7—  LOVE  BALLADS  OF  THE  XVI  CENTURY,  a.oo 

Forty  copies  hand  illumined,  5.00 

8—  IN  THE  TRACK  OF  THE  BOOK- WORM,  by 

Irving  Browne,  a.oo 

24  copies  on  Whatman,  hand  illumined,  10.00 

9—  THE  BOOK  OF  JOB,  5.00 

No.*s  I to  40  specially  illumined,  10.00 

10 — SESAME  AND  LILIES,  by  John  Ruskin,  5.00 
No.’s  I to  40  specially  illumined,  10.00 


ii—THE  DESERTED  VILLAGE,  by  Goldsmith,  5.00 
Nine  copies  specially  illumined,  xo.oo 


12 


y 


12 —  HAND  AND  BRAIN  : a symposium  of  essays,  2.00 

13—  AS  IT  SEEMS  TO  ME,  by  Elbert  Hubbard,  2.50 

Forty  copies  on  Whatman,  10.00 

14—  A DREAM  OF  JOHN  BALL,  by  Wm.  Morris,  2.00 

15—  SONNETS  FROM  THE  PORTUGUESE,  by 

Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning,  5.00 

16 —  IN  MEMORIAM,  by  Alfred  Tennyson,  2.00 

17—  CONFESSIONS  OF  AN  OPIUM  EATER,  2.00 


The  Roycrofters  are  daily  in  receipt  of  letters 
reading  thus : 

“ Please  mail  cat.,  naming  best  discount  to  dealers.’* 

And  so  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  here  say.  The  Roycrofters 
do  not  give  discounts  to  any  one,  all  their  wares  being 
strictly  net.  Further,  they  do  not  solicit  the  patronage  of 
dealers  or  agents.  The  Roycrofters  make  only  a few 
books  and  have  no  desire  to  encroach  on  the  preserve  of 
Col.  Dillingham,  Mr.  F.  Tennyson  Neely,  or  Rand,  Mc- 
Nally & Co.  The  few  books  made  by  the  Roycrofters  are 
quickly  taken  by  Book-Lovers,  and  if  you  want  Roycroft 
books  you  have  to  write  direct  to  East  Aurora  for  them. 
1^  East  Aurora  is  now  a money-order  postofiice  The 
Roycrofters  are  always  glad  to  send  their  books  to  the 
Faithful  “ on  suspicion  ” — a postal  card  will  do  it. 


13 


We  can  supply  the  following  books  by  Elbert 
Hubbard : 


FORBES  OF  HARVARD  : 350  pages,  cloth,  $ 1,25 
NO  ENEMY  BUT  HIMSELF,  1.50 

LITTLE  JOURNEYS  TO  THE  HOMES  OF 

GOOD  MEN  AND  GREAT,  1.75 

EMINENT  WOMEN,  1.75 

Ditto,  De  luxe  Roycroft  Edition,  10.00 

AMERICAN  STATESMEN,  1.75 

FAMOUS  PAINTERS,  Ready  Nov.  ist,  I.75 

AS  IT  SEEMS  TO  ME:  A Book  of  Essays. 

Frontispiece  of  author  in  photogravure  (three  copies  on 
a high  shelf,  slightly  shop-worn),  $2.50 

TIME  & CHANCE  : A Romance  and  a History,  $3.00 


ALI  BABA  of  East  Aurora : By  Fra  Elbertus 
(also  of  East  Aurora) . Being  an  Appreciation,  discreetly 
done,  of  the  life,  labors,  and  public  services  of  a Good 
Man  and  True;  with  copious  extracts  from  his  Orphic 
Sayings,  and  instructive  moral  anecdotes  relating  to  his 
Career,  told  for  the  Edification  of  the  Young. 

Portrait  in  photogravure  on  Imperial  Japan,  from  the  orig- 
inal canvas  by  Samuel  Warner,  F.  R.  S.  A. 

Edition  limited  to  six  hundred  and  twenty  copies,  on 
“Roycroft”  watermark,  hand-made  paper.  Bound  in 
half-Morocco.  The  volume  is  now  on  the  press,  and  or- 
ders will  be  booked  and  filled  in  rotation  as  received. 
Price,  $5.00 

14 


Some  extracts  from  letters  from  a few  well- 
known  Book-Lovers : 


'J'HE  style  in  which  you  have  re-printed  “ Sesame  and 
Lilies”  is  very  pleasing  to  Mr,  Ruskin.  He  wishes 
me  to  say  that  this  beautiful  book  goes  far  in  atoning  for 
the  typographical  sins  that  have  been  inflicted  on  his 
writings  by  certain  American  publishers. 

JAMES  HULL  LIPTON, 
Coniston,  Jan.  5,  1898.  Secretary. 


'J'HE  beautiful  Roycroft  book  just  reached  me  this  morn- 
ing, and  I write  at  once  to  tell  you  that  we  are  all 
greatly  pleased  with  it.  Will  you  hand  the  enclosed  check 
to  the  Bursar,  with  request  that  I be  enrolled  as  a “ Life 
Member.”  I am  not  quite  sure  that  I shall  live  ninety- 
nine  years,  but  surely  such  books  as  you  make  must  con- 
duce to  longevity. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Washington,  Sept.  27,  1898.  JOHN  HAY. 


J SEND  you  love  and  blessings  for  the  noble  volume.  It 
seems  like  a breath  from  some  old  Scriptorium  of  the 
Middle  Ages,  when  the  making  of  books  was  a holy  ser- 
vice, not  a speculation. 

CHARLES  WARREN  STODDARD. 
The  Bungalow. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  6,  1898. 


15 


p^ER  MAJESTY,  the  Queen,  directs  me  to  express  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubbard  the  pleasure  she  has  had  in 
the  beautiful  copy  of  “ Sonnets  from  the  Portuguese.*' 
The  combination  of  paper,  typography,  illuminations  and 
binding  is  so  harmonious  that  the  work  has  been  given  a 
place  among  the  Queen’s  intimate  book  treasures. 

HELEN  BARSTOW, 
Assistant  to  the  Librarian. 

Windsor  Castle,  June  i8,  1897. 


J HAND  you  cheque  for  the  six  books  that  have  been 
safely  received  and  sent  on  their  way  to  make  six  dear 
friends  happy.  You  must  send  me  two  copies  of  each  one 
of  the  Roycroft  books  as  issued,  to  my  London  address. 
I have  just  learned  where  East  Aurora  really  is,  and  am 
quite  provoked  to  think  that  I spent  all  last  week  at  Buf- 
falo and  did  not  go  out  to  see  “ how  you  do  it.** 

ELLEN  TERRY. 

Pittsburg,  Dec.  4,  1897. 


pOR  the  check  enclosed  please  send  me  another  “ Ru- 
baiyat.** The  loving  care  you  bestow  on  your  work  I 
hope  is  not  without  its  due  reward. 

New  York,  July  27,  1898.  JOHN  L.  STODDARD. 


pHE  Roycroft  books 


are  a great  pleasure  to  me  * * * • 
THEODORE  ROOSEVELT. 


Executive  Mansion,  Albany,  May  6,  1899. 

16 


'J^HE  volume  came  in  good  order.  Just  to  hold  and  ca- 
ress such  a book  is  a joy. 

New  York,  Feb.  15,  1898.  LAURENCE  HUTTON. 


Y^URS  is  a classic  touch  in  book-making.  You  put  the 
best  inside  the  covers,  and  the  plainness  of  the  bind- 
ings seems  to  enhance  the  delight  when  one  turns  the 
leaves.  NATHAN  HASKELL  DOLE. 

Jamaica  Plains,  March  13,  2899. 


J AM  spending  a week  here  with  my  friend,  Mrs.  Ole 
Bull,  and  must  tell  you  of  the  delight  that  the  Roycroft 
books  have  given  us  ^ * 

FRANCES  E.  WILLARD. 
Cambridge,  May  8th,  1897. 


Y^^IOUS  Kelmscott  books  are  mine,  and  I am  sure 
that  Roycroft  publications  do  not  suffer  any  in  com- 
parison. Your  books  show  a distinct  personality,  and  the 
small  imperfections  I find,  only  add  to  their  charm,  like 
a patch  on  beauty's  face.  HAROLD  FREDERIC. 

London,  April  2,  1898. 


n IS  probably  true  that  Moses  had  no  Christian  name  ; 

but  in  any  event  the  dress  you  have  given  this  book  is 
a delight  to  the  eye.  I would  be  proud  to  have  some  little 
thing  of  my  own  come  forth  from  the  Roycroft  Shop. 
London,  Dec.  i,  1897.  I.  ZANGWILL. 

17 


MR.  £.  S.  WILLARD  sends  greetings  to  the  Roycroft- 
ers  and  begs  that  they  will  record  his  permanent 
London  address  and  send  him  one  each  of  their  books  as 
fast  as  issued.  Mr.  Willard  will  not  be  so  captious  as  to 
criticise  the  “ Ruskin  and  Turner'*  just  received — let  the 
fact  that  he  encloses  check  be  its  own  comment. 
Toronto,  Jan.  lo,  1898. 

J HAVE  seen  some  of  your  books,  and  will  ask  you  to 
send  me,  care  Southern  Hotel,  one  copy  each  of  the 
publications  you  have  in  stock.  MODJBSKA. 

January  5,  z8g8.  (Countess  Bozenta.) 


book-making  is  most  quaint  & pleasing,  withal. 
I am  glad  to  say  that  my  library  holds  several  Roy- 
croft  volumes.  E.  C.  STEDMAN. 

Bronx ville,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  4,  1897. 


^HE  Roycroft  books  are  a delight,  and  I am  showing 
them  to  my  friends  with  intent  to  prove  that  the  old 
world  moves.  And  in  moving  backward  to  the  time  of 
those  Early  Venetian  Printers  (who  made  such  beauti- 
ful books  while  Columbus  was  discovering  America)  you 
have  done  well.  I cannot  say  you  have  improved  on  the 
Venetians,  but  you  have  nearly  equaled  them. 

W.  E.  GLADSTONE. 

Hawarden,  Sept.  z8,  1897. 

18 


Y^UR  politics  seem  a trifle  scrambled  and  your  theoU 
ogy  no  better,  yet  I have  decided  to  chance  your 
company  for  a limited  time — say  99  years  * * 

THOMAS  BRACKETT  REED. 
Portland,  Maine,  Sept.  7th,  1899. 


you  will  find,  in  colors,  on  the  Great  Roster  of  Im- 
mortals the  names  of  the  President,  General  Super- 
intendent, Traffic  Manager,  General  Freight  Agent,  Su- 
perintendent of  Motive  Power  and  Chief  Counsel  of  the 
New  York  Central ; also  the  name  of  the  Chairman  of 
the  Board,  who  has  recently  been  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate. 

These  are  valiant  Hittites — vouched  for  by  me. 

We  do  not  always  like  the  way  you  carry  off  the  Gates 
of  Gaza,  but  we  read  all  you  write  as  a sort  of  a mental 
Martini.  Then  your  books  are  like  a sweet  dream  of  Par- 
adise, beautiful  as  fair  women,  or  the  cars  on  the  Lake 
Shore  Limited.  GEO.  H.  DANIELS. 

Grand  Central  Station,  New  York,  Sept.  15,  1899. 


J-JAVING  seen  the  Philistine  in  his  lair  and  the  Roy- 
crofters  at  their  work,  Mrs.  Pond  and  I are  more  in 
love  with  Roycroft  books  than  ever.  I wonder  if  your 
workers  realize  how  much  of  an  education  they  are  ac- 
quiring— and  giving  to  others  ? 

JAMES  B.  POND. 

Everett  House,  New  York,  August  21,  1899. 


19 


Y^UR  books  come  to  me  as  a most  agreeable  rest  and 
refreshment  in  a very  busy  life.  I trust  you  will  not 
fail  to  send  me  copies  in  duplicate  of  all  your  products. 

H.  N.  HIGINBOTHAM. 

Chicago,  June  6,  1899. 


J^AST  year  I confined  my  giving  of  Christmas  presents 
to  Roycroft  books.  This  year  I intend  to  do  the  same ; 
so  send  me  along  as  usual  a dozen  copies  of  each  volume 
I have  checked  from  your  list.  ALVA  ADAMS. 

Executive  Mansion,  Denver,  Col.,  Nov.  28,  1898. 


YOU  seem  to  get  a lot  of  enjoyment  out  of  your  work; 

and  in  these  days  of  hurry  and  rush  and  anxiety,  that 
is  much.  I hope  you  are  getting  the  reward  you  deserve 
— and  this  is  a most  generous  wish. 

THOMAS  WENTWORTH  HIGGINSON. 
Cambridge,  April  6,  ’99. 

^ QUEER  lot  of  folks  you  are  up  there,  but  I rather  like 
you,  and  like  your  work.  I think  I *11  pack  up  and  go 
and  spend  my  old  age  with  you,  in  the  Forest  of  Arden, 
making  Books  and  Things.  J.  Q.  A.  WARD. 

New  York  City,  Jan.  i,  1899. 


20 


EAST  AURORA  DEFINED 

Brooklyn  Eagle  of  September  3rd,  i8gg.] 


[Charles  M.  Skinner  in  the 

East  aurora  is  a tranquil 
place  of  about  1,000  people, 
some  of  whom  wear  last 
year’s  clothes  without  a blush  or  a 
murmur,  and  some  wear  galways 
and  the  like  adornments  that  are 
seen  on  the  faces  of  the  farmers  in 
“ Puck.”  This  settlement  is  seven- 
teen miles  southeast  of  Buffalo  & 
is  reached  by  a deliberate  railroad 
train  that  covers  the  distance  three 
times  a day.  The  conductor  stops 
whenever  he  sees  a man,  so  as  to 
argue  with  him  that  he  ought  to 
get  on  and  buy  a ride  and  encour- 
age local  enterprise  ^ When  you 
reach  East  Aurora  it  is  only  a 
couple  of  minutes*  walk  to  the 
Roycroft  Shop.  Anybody  will  tell 
you  where  it  is,  because  it  is  the 
only  thing  in  the  place  that  gives 
distinction  to  it  |n  The  Roycroft 
Shop  is  the  result  of  a lark.  Hub- 
bard printed  a little  magazine  that 
he  called  the  PHILISTINE  just 
for  fun.  He  expected  to  discontinue 
it  after  the  second  number,  because 
in  two  numbers  he  could  utter  the 
various  gibes  he  had  in  mind  ^ 
against  certain  enemies.  But  hav- 
ing put  out  a second  number,  or- 


ders came  for  more,  and  pretty 
soon  the  little  thing  had  become  a 
permanence.  It  is  as  small  as  ever 
but  full  of  cranberry  sauce.  Hav- 
ing then  secured  type  enough  for  a 
magazine  he  asked  why  he  should 
not  amuse  himself  by  making  a 
book,  and  he  did  it.  He  turned  the 
Song  of  Solomon  and  the  Book  of 
Job  into  thin  volumes  with  wide 
margins,  rubricated  borders  and 
initials,  accessory  essays  & other 
improvements,  and  these  likewise 
sold.  The  first  paper  was  a little 
bit  spongy,  the  first  ink  a little 
oily,  but  that  is  not  the  case  any 
more.  The  Roycroft  has  its  own  pa- 
per, its  own  leather,  its  own  type, 
its  own  artists  to  make  new  type 
and  ornaments,  and  a lot  of  other 
things  that  are  its  own.  It  is  more 
and  more  self-centered.  William 
Morris,  who  learned  several  trades, 
including  those  of  poet  and  artist, 
in  order  that  he  might  make  better 
books  than  anybody  else,  has  left 
a few  perfect  volumes  as  a result 
of  his  work  in  the  Kelmscott  Press, 
which  was  established  in  almost 
as  unpretentious  a way  as  the  Roy- 
croft. It  was  the  inspiration  of  bis 

21 


example  that  led  to  the  advance  of 
this  American  Kelmscott  after  it 
had  solidified  out  of  the  visions  of 
its  founders.  Yet  there  is  no  imita- 
tion. The  Roy  croft  books  are  dis- 
tinct in  type,  binding,  decoration 
and  everything. 

The  Shop  looks  like  a church, 
with  another  church  built  on.  In- 
side it  suggests  the  church  also,  & 
it  would  not  be  surprising  if  its 
founder  had  been  unconsciously 
influenced  by  religious  association. 
It  was  the  old  monks  who  made 
books,  working  at  them  for  a couple 
of  hours  a day,  and  it  was  the 
monks  who  did  the  illuminating  on 
the  missals  and  breviaries  that  we 
see  in  the  museums.  So,  indirectly, 
it  may  be  that  the  monks  were  re- 
sponsible for  the  ecclesiastical  ar- 
chitecture and  the  oaken  beams  of 
the  Shop  in  East  Aurora.  The  un- 
shoplike character  of  the  place  is 
striking  |(i  There  is  no  racket,  no 
raggedness,  no  smell  of  oil  or  ink 
or  smoke.  The  floors  are  as  clean 
as  a dinner  plate,  and  when  a drop 
of  ink  or  paint  is  spilled,  the  cul- 
prit wipes  it  up  instead  of  burying 
it  under  a tobacco  quid,  or  leaving 
it  for  someone  else. 

Flowers  and  bric-a-brac  and  pic- 
tures make  the  rooms  cheery  and 


parlor-like,  and  outside  it  is  neat 
and  cheery,  too,  with  the  bright 
lawn  and  the  plants  & vines.  Mr. 
Hubbard’s  comfortable  home  ^ 
stands  only  a few  rods  from  the 
Shop  and  across  the  way  a new 
building  is  going  up,  a flreproof 
affair  designed  to  hold  the  books 
and  to  add  room  for  the  workers. 
This  new  building  will  look  some- 
thing like  a castle  and  will  be  the 
most  stoutly  built  house  in  the 
county,  for  it  is  constructed  out  of 
field  bowlders  And  who  do  you 
suppose  are  building  it  ? Why,  the 
printers.  **  Imagine,”  says  Fra  El- 
bertus,  **  asking  a jour  printer  to 
lay  stone ! But  our  fellows  do  it 
because  they  like  to.  It  is  a change. 
After  they  have  been  at  work  at 
the  case  for  several  hours  they  like 
to  get  out  in  the  air  and  the  sun  & 
do  something  different.” 

One  may  see  Richard  Croker  in  a 
pair  of  overalls  and  an  ancient  hat 
trundling  bowlders  up  the  gang- 
way in  a wheelbarrow.  The  spec- 
tacle is  somewhat  startling  ^ A 
nearer  view,  however,  proves  that 
the  one  with  the  barrow  is  not  Mr. 
Croker,  but  a famous  man  of  all 
work,  known  as  Ali  Baba.  He  was 
born  in  East  Aurora  and  has  never 
been  out  of  Erie  County  in  his  life. 


22 


When  Mr.  Hubbard  settled  in  the 
place  fifteen  years  ago  and  tried  to 
raise  cabbages  between  the  stones, 
& failing  in  that  raised  the  stones 
from  between  the  cabbages  for 
building  purposes,  Ali  Baba  was 
his  helper.  He  lugs  rocks  & waters 
the  lawn  and  whenever  a visitor  is 
refractory  it  is  Ali  Baba  who  is 
sent  to  argue  with  him.  There  is  a 
good  deal  of  decision  about  the 
chin  of  Ali  Baba,  covered  though 
it  is  with  grizzled  bristles.  He  re- 
sembles a man  who,  if  he  were 
kicked  and  found  it  out,  would  dis- 
tribute trouble.  When  Mr.  Hub- 
bard reverts  to  nature  on  Satur- 
days and  goes  off  to  swim  or  sit 
beside  the  creek  in  the  shade,  Ali 
Baba  runs  many  things  in  his  ab- 
sence fi  III 

It  is  time  to  have  a look  at  Hub- 
bard himself.  Imagine  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  born  in  Colorado  and 
intended  by  his  folks  to  be  a cow- 
boy,& imagine  him  having  changed 
his  folks’  mind  and  decided  to  go 
to  a theological  seminary,  and  that 
is  something  like  him.  He  has  the 
complexion  tinged  with  healthy 
red  & brown  that  pertains  among 
the  agriculturists  in  East  Aurora ; 
he  has  a piercing  black  eye,  a high 
brow,  a chin  that  he  could  fight 


with  |i  He  wears  a blue  flannel 
shirt,  a pair  of  bicycle  breeches 
that  do  not  match  the  shirt  and  a 
straw  hat.  How  beautifully  his 
clothes  do  not  reflect  his  intellect ! 
He  can  be  as  serious  as  a parson, 
as  nimble  of  wit  as  Mark  Twain, 
as  picturesque  as  Ruskin,  as  sly 
as  Sterne,  as  quaint  as  Herrick,  & 
indeed,  his  reading  has  been  so 
wide  that  he  can  playfully  freak 
his  own  style  into  a semblance  of 
anybody’s  ||i 

Hubbard  has  preserved  a little  of 
his  country  manner,  a certain  de- 
liberation, a half  shyness,  a whole- 
someness, and  most  remarkable 
of  all,  a continued  enjoyment  of 
the  country,  which  those  born  to 
it  seldom  appreciate.  He  has  also 
preserved  as  one  of  the  rustic  tra- 
ditions a belief  in  the  supremacy 
of  human  hands,  and  his  shop  is 
an  earnest  of  his  faith,  for  of  all 
the  work  done  there,  none,  except 
the  press  work,  comes  from  a ma- 
chine. He  even  makes  the  most  of 
his  literature  with  his  hands,  and 
he  has  made  a good  deal  of  it. 
|i  Besides  writing  the  PHILIS- 
TINE every  month,  or  most  of  it, 
he  has  published  the  **  Little  Jour- 
neys,” two  or  three  novels,  sev- 
eral books  of  essays  and  has,  just 


23 


out  of  the  press,  a two- volume 
book  of  more  than  passing  conse- 
quence; a historical  tale  named 
“ Time  and  Chance,”  and  present- 
ing John  Brown  of  Ossawatomie 
in  a romantic  guise. 

Roycroft  books  are  not  for  the 
people  with  whom  a yellow  cov- 
ered novel  suffices.  They  are  the 
best  in  literature  and  they  are  the 
best  in  dress.  Some  people  are  so 
choice  of  them  that  they  do  not 
try  to  read  them,  or,  they  buy  two 
copies,  one  to  read  and  the  other 
to  keep  in  a glass  case.  And  it  is  a 
delight  to  own  a thing  that  was 
made  simply  to  be  beautiful.  The 
paper  is  strong  and  fine  and  has 
the  Roycroft  water-mark ; the  cov- 
ers are  sometimes  of  gray  boards 
gilt  lettered,  which  is  a perfectly 
simple  and  agreeable  way  to  bind 
a book,  while  others  are  of  flexible 
leather  with  satin  linings  and  let- 
ters and  designs  in  relief.  Recently 
crushed  levant  has  entered  into  the 
stock  of  the  shop  & some  gorgeous 
bindings  will  be  put  upon  the  new 
$100  copy  of  Shakespeare’s  Son- 
nets, hand  illumined  and  printed 
on  real  vellum — the  only  book  ever 
published  in  America  with  leaves 
of  vellum.  None  of  the  books  are 
copies  of  one  another  The  illu- 

*4 


minations  all  vary  as  regards  the 
placing  of  colors,  so  that  the  owner 
of  a Roycroft  volume  has  one  that 
is  unique.  Such  books  are  luxuries, 
of  course,  but  they  are  luxuries 
that  never  pall  upon  one.  As  in  the 
case  of  the  Kelmscott  books,  they 
are  so  few  in  number  that  copies 
are  not  distributed  to  the  press  for 
notice,  they  are  not  sold  in  book 
stores,  they  are  not  advertised. 
Who  wants  one  must  send  for  it. 
^ It  is  in  the  fact  that  every  book 
is  different  that  the  meaning  and 
value  of  this  experiment  in  art 
colonization  consists  ||t  Here  is  a 
country  village,  without  ideals, 
without  industries  of  consequence, 
With  no  great  amount  of  money, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  last  places  on 
earth  that  one  would  pick  out  as 
the  seat  of  an  enterprise  like  this. 
Commonly,  the  best  thing  we  ex- 
pect from  a country  village  is  a 
chair  factory  or  a woolen  mill 
where  the  people  grind  away  at  the 
same  old  tasks  year  after  year, 
never  growing  wiser  or  abler  or 
developing  in  any  way.  In  the  Roy- 
croft Shop  the  farmers*  boys  and 
the  boarding  house  waiters  and  the 
mechanics’  girls  are  learning  to  be- 
come artists.  Many  of  them  have 
become  artists.  There  is  a quiet- 


faced  daughter  of  the  village  black- 
smith,  who,  two  or  three  months 
ago,  did  not  know  a paint  brush  by 
sight  She  went  to  the  free  art 
school  instituted  by  Mr.  Hubbard, 
and  now  she  has  one  of  the  tables 
in  the  illuminating  department  & 
is  doing  work  that  shows  a remark- 
able aptness.  Nobody  in  the  Shop 
has  a finer  feeling  for  color  and  a 
nicer  delicacy  of  taste  than  she 
One  noticeable  thing  in  the  Shop  is 
that  there  are  no  bosses,  no  heads 
of  departments.  All  are  on  equal 
terms.  Mr.  Hubbard  looks  around, 
encourages,  advises,  but  never  %i 
commands.  He  never  has  to.  This 
is  an  industrial  commune  and  no 
member  of  it  feels  himself  forced 
to  stay.  All  are  working  not  merely 
for  money,  but  for  art.  The  rules, 
if  there  are  any,  are  lax,  but  the 
observance  is  so  willing  that  you 
would  suppose  it  to  be  strict.  No- 
where will  you  see  a quieter,  more 
willing-looking  company  than  that 
of  these  healthy  farmer  lads  and 
these  pink-cheeked  girls  in  light 
shirt  waists.  Every  morning  and 
afternoon  there  is  a recess  of  fif- 
teen minutes  to  rest  the  eyes  of  the 
painters ; a full  hour  is  allowed  for 
dinner ; there  is  no  work  on  Satur- 
day afternoon,  and  the  people  are 


encouraged  to  play  ball  or  anything 
else.  The  Shop  is  open  for  any  that 
want  to  use  it  after  hours,  and  there 
are  books,  baths  and  a piano  for  all 
hands.  When  Mr.  Hubbard  was 
swapping  horses  he  never  kicked 
and  whipped  them,  as  they  do  in 
Manambatu,  Madagascar,  and  he 
found,  to  the  astonishment  of  the 
others,  that  they  never  refused  to 
work.  He  believes  that  human  be- 
ings may  be  treated  as  well  as 
horses  without  exciting  them  to 
revolt  III  |n 

So  here  is  a place  where  one  in- 
dustry has  led  into  another— pot- 
tery is  a recent  addition — and  all 
of  them  artistic  and  all  of  them 
manual,  and  there  is  work  now  for 
100  people  at  good  wages  & shar- 
ings, where  four  years  ago  there 
was  none  but  mechanical  and  dis- 
tasteful work  where  there  was  any. 
The  Shop  has  proved  the  feasibil- 
ity of  a revival  in  hand  industries. 
It  has  proved  the  saving  force  of 
industry,  for  the  busy  are  the  mor- 
al. It  has  proved  that  the  country 
people  are  at  least  as  apt  as  those 
in  the  cities,  and  possibly  it  will 
be  found  that  they  are  more  so,  for 
they  are  not  forced  to  see  horrible 
examples  in  such  multitudes  every 
day.  It  has  proved  that  by  partially 

25 


re-establishing  monastic  condi- 
tions of  quiet,  seclusion  and  com- 
mon purpose  one  may  secure  re- 
sults similar  to  those  which  were 
obtained  from  the  cloisters  |(i  It 
proves  that  a beginning  can  be 
safely  made  of  an  industrial  com- 
mune. It  does  n’t  matter  about  the 
center  of  a village’s  activities  be- 
ing a printing  shop  ^ Without  a 
Hubbard  to  start  it  the  chance  is 
it  would  do  very  bad  printing. 


As  a possession,  one  Roycroft 
book  is  worth  a library  of  sloppy 
volumes,  written,  set  and  printed 
by  machinery.  So  with  a hundred 
things  we  need  to  have  about  us  : 
cloth,  lace,  furniture,  upholstery, 
hangings,  lamps,  metal  work,  por- 
celains & the  like.  Who  will  start 
the  next  community  of  artistic 
hand  workers,  and  start  it  on  the 
same  broad  and  humane  principles 
that  prevail  in  East  Aurora  ? 


Margaret  Bancroft  in  the  Buffalo  Times : 

[Special  Correspondence.] 


Time  was  when  book-making 
was  a labor  of  love.  In  those 
days,  when  the  patient-heart- 
ed monk  of  the  middle  ages  was 
willing  to  spend  a decade  in  the 
creation  & affectionate  embellish- 
ment of  one  precious  volume  or 
even  one  tiny  portion  of  a volume, 
the  making  of  a book  or  a missal 
was  a serious  and  holy  task  ^ As 
Austin  Dobson  has  sighed, the  very 
spirit  of  the  man  was  to  be  found 
in  the  book  he  had  made.  Later, 
too,  came  those  early  Venetian 
printers,  who,  with  unhurrying  and 
loving  hands,  carved  their  wooden 
blocks,  chaptered,  initialized  and 
rubricated  their  elfin  decorated  In 


pages  and  left  strange  old  volumes 
for  which  the  fin  de  siecle  collector 
now  scours  all  Europe. 

|i  Nowadays,  however,  our  huge 
steam  presses  pound  out  their  ten 
thousand  volumes,  & the  machine- 
made  thing  of  paper  & cloth  is  look- 
ed upon  much  the  same  as  a gela- 
tin capsule  holding  together  a few 
grains  of  thought  dust.  The  prin- 
ciple of  the  Venetian  printer  is  out 
of  date  and  his  manner  of  book- 
making almost  a lost  art. 

In  the  village  of  East  Aurora,  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  however, 
there  lives  a book-maker  who  has 
a good  deal  of  the  mediaeval  monk 
about  him  |n  The  man’s  name  is 


26 


Elbert  Hubbard,  and  to  say  that  he 
is  the  William  Morris  of  America 
would  make  the  shade  of  the  poet 
publisher  who  once  operated  the 
Kelmscott  press  hug  his  golden 
harp  with  pleasure,  for  if  there  is  a 
man  who  deserves  a harp  it  is  he 
who  has  labored  not  for  gold  and 
position  and  praise,  but  he,  as  Kip- 
ling sings,  who  has  labored  for  the 
sake  of  the  thing  to  be  done.  This 
is  the  doctrine  which  is  preached 
by  Elbert  Hubbard,  and  what  the 
pastor  of  the  Society  of  Philistines 
preaches  he  also  practices  ^ As 
Emerson  once  said,  if  a man  shall 
do  a piece  of  work  incomparably 
better  than  his  fellows,  the  world 
will  make  a pathway  to  his  door, 
though  he  live  in  a forest.  And  of 
late  the  people  of  America — and 
Europe,  too,  for  that  matter — seem 
to  be  finding  their  way  to  the  little 
^ village  of  East  Aurora,  where 
stands  that  quaint,  chapel-like 
building  known  as  the  Roycroft 
Shop  ^ This  “ shop  **  is  the  head- 
quarters of  the  Society  of  the  Phi- 
listines, & from  it  is  issued  **  every 
little  while  ” that  most  eccentric  & 
interesting  little  monthly  known  as 
the  PHILISTINE  Magazine  ^ 
But  it  is  for  its  beautiful  books 
that  East  Aurora  has  become  fa- 


mous, for  nowhere  else  in  America 
are  such  creations  in  book-making 
produced. 

The  output  of  the  **  Shop  is  not 
large,  for  the  work  is  all  hand  work, 
but  the  volumes  that  do  go  forth 
from  the  Roycroft  all  have  on  them 
the  stamp  of  delicate  and  affection- 
ate workmanship.  This  little  coun- 
try-town printing  plant  gives  free 
instruction  to  the  natives  in  water 
colors,  crayon  drawing  and  hand 
illuminating,  & whenever  a young 
man  or  woman  on  probation  shows 
that  his  or  her  work  is  valuable, 
the  shop  at  once  hires  the  new  art- 
ist, pays  wages  for  work  done  and 
at  the  end  of  the  year  divides  prof- 
its. At  present  there  are  some  50 
workers  in  the  Roycroft  Shop  busy 
in  making  and  adorning  books,  and 
all  of  these  book-makers  are  Hub- 
bardized  East  Aurorans.  The  only 
importation  in  the  Roycroft  Shop 
is  a Leipsic  book-binder  who  works 
miracles  in  levant  and  teaches  to 
the  young  Roycrofters  the  myster- 
ies of  his  art. 

^ But  this  society  of  Philistines 
does  other  things  besides  making 
hand-illumined  books.  Under  the 
leadership  of  their  scholarly  pastor 
they  discuss  philosophy,  paint  ^ 
pictures,  edit  a magazine,  enter- 

27 


tain  hungry  and  indigent  authors 
& have  an  annual  dinner  to  which 
all  the  faithful  of  the  society  are 
duly  bidden.  A prominent  eastern 
college  has  recently  conferred  on 
Mr.  Hubbard  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  in  recognition  of  his 
achievements  in  the  line  of  artistic 
book-making  ||i  And  surely  Mr. 
Hubbard  is  not  without  honor  in 
his  own  country,  being  known  as 
the  author  of  a successful  novel  or 
two,  numerous  quaintly  humorous 
philosophical  essays,  & Emerson- 
ian preachments  on  life  and  men 
and  things,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
“Little  Journeys,’*  published  by 
the  Putnams.  When  not  busy  writ- 
ing or  making  books.  Father  El- 
bert Hubbard  takes  a spade  and 
goes  out  & digs  post-holes  for  the 
fence  that  is  some  day  to  shut  off 
the  Roycroft  Shop  from  the  undu- 
lating pasture  fields  of  East  Au- 
rora. 

Often  disguised  with  jaunty  rail- 
lery, the  “ Roycrofters  ” of  East 
Aurora,  N.  Y.,  are  working  out  a 
complex  social  & economic  prob- 
lem. They  are  doing  a great  work 
with  a light  hand. 


Think,  if  you  please,  of  a manu- 
factory that  has  a fifteen-minute 
recess  in  the  middle  of  the  fore- 
noon and  the  same  in  the  after- 
noon besides  the  hour  at  noon  & 
a Saturday  half-holiday,  when  all 
the  workers  get  out  and  play  hand- 
ball; that  surrounds  its  helpers 
with  an  atmosphere  of  art  and 
beauty;  that  has  a piano,  bath- 
rooms, and  a library ; that  has  no 
“bosses”;  pays  good  wages  and 
divides  profits  at  end  of  the  year, 
and  you  have  the  Roycroft  Shop ! 
A New  York  bibliophile  told  me  a 
few  days  ago  that  he  made  it  a 
point  to  buy  every  book  that  comes 
from  the  Roycroft  Shop.  This  man 
Hubbard,  he  said,  would  some  day 
go  forth  to  the  great  beyond  and 
with  him  would  pass  away  the  tra- 
ditions with  which  he  had  endowed 
the  Roycroft  Shop.  The  output  of 
the  Shop  is  necessarily  small,  the 
work  is  substantial  & will  endure, 
and  therefore,  as  a business  invest- 
ment, the  bibliophile  in  question 
held,  every  Hubbard  book  he  added 
to  his  library  was  money  securely 
and  well  spent. 


A MESSAGE 
TO  GARCIA 

9 

First  printed  in  the  “ Philistine  ’’ 
for  March,  1899,  caused  the  edi- 
tion to  be  exhausted  within  three 
days  after  publication.  We  have 
reprinted  the  article  for  the  ben- 
efit of  those  Discerning  Ones  who 
appreciate  a good  thing.  Done  in 
booklet  form,  on  Holland  hand- 
made paper,  with  one  illumined 
initial,  price  zoc  each,  or  in  quan- 
tities, say  ten  dollars  per  hun- 
dred. One  thousand  copies  num- 
bered & signed  by  author,  bound 
in  limp  chamois,  satin-lined,  il-  , 
lumined  title-page,  one  dollar  per 
copy  ^ Address  the  Bursar  of 
THE  PHILISTINES, 

^ East  Aurora, 


^ 


DOROTHY  WORDSW^ORTH 
TO  COLERIDGE: 

• * • Yes,  do^ou  send  me  a 
book  for  my  birthday.  Not  a bar- 
gain book  bought  from  a Haber- 
dasher, bu|  a bcadtifal  book,*a 
book  to  carie s s-^pe ctiliar ^ distinct* 
ive,  indivlilual  1 a book  that  hath 
first  capght  your  eye  and  then 
pleased  your  i^ncy,  written  by 
an  author  with  a tender  whim, 
all  right  out  of  his  heart.  We 

will  read  it  together  in  the 
gloaming,  and  when  the  gather- 
ing dusk  doth  fiuf  the  page,  ^ 
^e  ’ll  sit  with  hearts  too  full  for 
sneech  and  think  it  over  ^ 


